Oregon coach Willie Taggart last week signed his first recruiting class, which Rivals.com ranked No. 18 in the nation. Now CSN is taking a look at how the new recruits could fit into the Ducks' plans next season.

The situation: It's possible that Burmeister could pull a Herbert and shock the program by competing for a starting job as a freshman. However, he would have to do so against Herbert.

That will be difficult to accomplish after Herbert completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1,986 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions as a freshman in 2016.

However, Taggart likes quarterbacks with running skills, which could put Wilson, who has dynamic speed, into the mix. However, he must improve his passing accuracy.

Burmeister, who will enroll in March in time to participate in spring drills, also runs very well and can sling it.

"When you're able to do those things, you bring a little more to the table," Taggart said. "You put a little more pressure on the defense. Braxton is one of those guys that can do a lot of those things for us. I know for me, personally, when you're looking at a quarterback, not only are you looking at his leadership and competitiveness and his smarts, and being able to throw the ball, but I always look for a guy that can get me at least two first downs with his feet."

Herbert is no slouch out of the pocket. He rushed for gains of 273 yards last season, but at 6-foot-6 it takes a bit longer to reach top speed.

The wild card is Jonsen, who entered last fall as the No. 2 before falling to No. 4. He has yet to transfer, which means he must be hoping to have a chance to compete for the starting job. He also can run very well.

The verdict: Burmeister will redshirt. He would have to run the ball better than Wilson and pass better than Herbert to get into the mix. Becoming a better passer than Herbert out of the gate is a tall order. However, the possibility exists that one or two quarterbacks could transfer after fall spring drills. That would open the door for Burmeister to possibly by in the mix as the backup.

“As we sit here today, he’s our fourth best quarterback, and that’s where it is,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said of Jonsen, rated by Rivals.com in 2014 as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the nation when he signed with the Ducks.

To put it simply, Jonsen was beaten out by three-star recruits, freshman Justin Herbert and Terry Wilson Jr., the No. 3 quarterback.

“He was second best,” Helfrich said of Herbert's performance.

Herbert, according to sources, has an "it" factor that makes him the front-runner to be the starter the next three seasons after Prukop moves on. Herbert essentially walked in and not only took the No. 2 job away from Jonsen and Wilson but also managed to push Prukop at least a little bit.

So what does all of this mean for Jonsen? Of course, the quick answer would be that he transfers.

“We have a plan, he has a plan," Helfrich said of Jonsen's development. "I know the natural thing with everybody now is, that guy leaves and transfers, which is unfortunate, but we still think a lot of him and Terry.”

Maybe so, but no quarterback in the country seeks to settle in to being a career backup as a freshman. Especially one as talented and highly touted as Jonsen.

According to sources, Jonsen severely regressed during fall camp and didn't play nearly as well as he had during spring. Meanwhile, Herbert took a week to become acclimated then shifted into another gear that put him into contention for No. 2.

To be honest, it makes zero sense for Jonsen to remain at Oregon. He is No. 4 behind two quarterbacks who are a year younger than he is. Could Jonsen still beat them out in the future? Maybe. But he must beat out two guys instead of one over the next 12 months to become the starter in 2017. And Jonsen, who arrived at Oregon in time for 2015 spring drills, has already been with the Ducks for 18 months longer than Herbert and a year longer than Wilson, who arrived last spring.

Helfrich said Jonsen is still developing and is very much still a freshman in many ways given that he missed most of last season with a toe injury that prevented him from practicing.

True, but while Helfrich can talk all he would like about outside pressures on quarterbacks to transfer, etc., the reality remains that they often do transfer and for good reason.

They want to play.

At every other position on offense and defense the second best player plays. At quarterback, you stand around with a clipboard and a pen charting plays while wearing a cap and a headset.

Jonsen could leave now for an FBS program, as did wide receiver Kirk Merritt over the summer, sit out this fall then compete for the starting job next season as a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility to work with. If Jonsen stays and remains a backup heading into next season, he could leave then for an FBS program, sit out a year and would have just two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2018. Jonsen could at any time transfer down a level and not lose eligibility.

If Oregon history is any indication, Jonsen is already looking for an exit strategy.

2007:Nate Costa, Justin Roper and Cody Kempt all signed with Oregon in the 2007 recruiting class. By 2009 Roper had moved on to Montana even after having guided the Ducks to the 2007 Sun Bowl championship. Kempt moved on following his freshman season. Costa stayed all five years but injuries prevented him from meeting his vast potential.

2012: Redshirt sophomore Bryan Bennett, a four-star recruit, lost his job to redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota. UO coach Chip Kelly talked Bennett into staying as a backup for one season. At its conclusion, Bennett moved on to Southeastern Louisiana where he played well enough to earn a camp invite with the Indianapolis Colts.

2014: Jake Rodrigues, a four-star recruit in 2012, transferred to San Diego State after failing to beat out Jeff Lockie for the backup job behind Mariota. Both were redshirt sophomores. Damion Hobbs, a three-star recruit in 2013, left for Utah State after it became clear he wouldn't beat out Lockie or Rodrigues.

2016: Former four-star recruit Morgan Mahalak, signed in 2014,transferred to Towson after it becomes apparent he isn't in Oregon's future plans.

Of course, backups have stuck around. A.J. Feeley played behind Joey Harrington after losing his starting job in 2000, but Feeley was a senior. Brady Leaf backed up Dixon, although both were competing to replace Clemens up until Dixon blossomed in 2007 when both were seniors. Lockie, of course, didn't leave after losing the starting job last fall to Vernon Adams Jr. He is back this season as a redshirt senior and is attending graduate school.

Should Jonsen transfer he would be Oregon's fourth four-star rated quarterback recruit to do so since 2012 (Bennett, Rodrigues, Mahalak).

As for Prukop, he simply proved to be better than all the rest in terms of productivity, taking care of the ball and efficiently running the offense.

“We obviously thought highly of him coming in," Helfrich said. "The last week or so he settled down and instead of trying to win the job he just concentrated on that individual play and all of those singular plays add up to a body of work.”

Jonsen failed to put together such a body of work. He certainly has the ability to do so, and maybe by this time next year he will be the man. But at this point, nobody could blame him if he sought to play elsewhere.

Senior transfer Dakota Prukop being named the starter was pretty much a forgone conclusion. But the rise of Herbert is a surprise given that he had to beat out redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen, who entered camp being touted as a threat to win the No. 1 job, and freshman Terry Wilson Jr., who had the advantage of arriving to Oregon in time to participate in spring drills.

Earlier this week, word out of fall camp made it clear that not only could Herbert be named No. 2 but he had already taken the reigns with the second team during practice.

According to coaches, Herbert has exceeded all expectations for a freshman quarterback. According to sources, Herbert has that "IT" factor that former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota possessed.

Of course it's premature to compare Herbert to Mariota as a player, but according to sources the 6-foot-6 freshman is very much like the former Heisman Trophy winner in terms of having a natural feel for the game and an aura of confidence. He's unflappable, according to some, and he processes information quickly, coaches have said.

- OTHER DEPTH CHART NOTES -

WR: Promising freshman Dillon Mitchell is not listed on the two-deep depth chart but seven other receivers are, including walk-on redshirt sophomore Casey Eugenio. Redshirt junior Devon Allen, fresh off his fifth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at the Rio Summer Olympics, is listed as a co-starter with redshirt senior Dwayne Stanford at one wide receiver position.

TE: Senior Pharaoh Brown, who missed all of last season with a serious leg injury, is listed as the starting tight end with senior Johnny Mundt as the backup.

DE: Redshirt sophomore Justin Hollins is listed as a starting defensive end ahead of redshirt sophomore Jalen Jelks after a fierce battle during camp. Look for both to play a lot.

MLB: As expected, junior A.J. Hotchkins, a junior college transfer, won the staring job over redshirt junior Danny Mattingly Jr. They should make a good one-two punch this season.

OLB: While senior Johnny Ragin III being named one of the two starting outside linebackers is no surprise, the other side has always been up for grabs. That job has been won by true freshman Troy Dye. He had been a three-star recruit as a safety by Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal. Backing up Dye is redshirt junior Jonah Moi.

CB: The transferring of Chris Seisay opened the door for freshman Brendan Schooler to slide in at No. 2 behind junior Arrion Springs. Schooler was a two-star recruit who didn't sign with Oregon until late June. He is a big corner at 6-2, 190.

Several sources have told CSN that Herbert has been taking second team reps. On Tuesday, when asked if Herbert had done enough during camp to contend for the backup job, Oregon offensive coordinator Matt Lubick didn't hesitate to answer in the affirmative.

"Yes he has," Lubick said. "That's a guy who wasn't here during spring ball, who came out this fall camp and as far as learning what we ask him to do, and not pare it down, he's been unbelievable. He's done a great job executing things. He's done a great job of keeping poise and calmness. He is picking things up. So yeah, he is definitely in the battle."

Now, one could label Lubick's comments as coach speak. But there's no benefit to hyping up a freshman quarterback at all. In fact, Oregon coaches have recently only done that once and that was with - drum roll - Marcus Mariota.

In fact, some have compared Herbert to Mariota in terms of his gift for being a quick study, having great poise beyond his years and simply getting it. Plus, the 6-foot-6 former Sheldon High School star can sling it and run with surprising speed, given his height, according to UO quarterbacks coach David Yost.

Be that as it may, even Mariota redshirted in 2011 behind junior starter Darron Thomas and redshirt freshman backup Bryan Bennett before beating out Bennett for the starting job in 2012.

As of right now, however, it appears Herbert might be more likely to remain available to play rather than redshirt.

Oregon redshirt junior running back Kani Benoit, during a one-on-one interview today with CSN, said Prukop and Herbert were battling it out during practice. When asked if that meant Herbert was the No. 2, Benoit said he didn't know the depth chart and that all four quarterbacks, which includes freshman Terry Wilson Jr., had been looking good in practice.

Entering the season, Jonsen had the clear inside track to at least the No. 2 job and was said by coaches to be in contention for the starting job. Now it appears that it's possible Jonsen could fall to at least No. 3.

If that happens, how long would Jonsen stick around?

Bennett, after getting beaten out by Mariota in 2012, seriously contemplated transferring at the end of fall camp before Chip Kelly talked him out of it.

Bennett ultimately transferred following the 2012 season to Southeastern Louisiana where he played well enough to earn a training camp invite with the Indianapolis Colts. Bennett now plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

Bottom line is that a program can only start one quarterback and when three are within a year of one another someone usually leaves.

If Herbert is No. 2, expect Jonsen to possibly move on. The former No. 3-rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation coming out of high school is too talented to potentially spend the next four seasons as a backup.

Wilson, on the other hand, could redshirt this season and then be a year behind Herbert, who as the No. 2 this season could be in line to be the starter next season, unless of course he is beaten out by Wilson.

Of course, Jonsen could stay, get better and beat out Herbert and Wilson next spring, or even later this fall.

Finally, Jonsen could be named the No. 2 quarterback this season, Herbert and Wilson could redshirt and then we would all witness a slugfest of a quarterback competition next year.

Ducks' QB competition: Advantage, Prukop

Ducks' QB competition: Advantage, Prukop

As if any mystery surrounding Oregon's quarterback competition truly existed to begin with, it appears that Prukop, a senior transfer from Montana State, officially separted himself from redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen following a team scrimmage on Tuesday.

"Dakota has been the most consistent,” Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. “And then kind of everybody else has had their moments.”

Prukop, after admitting to having in the past faked a smile in front of cameras following performing poorly in a scrimmage, appeared pleased with his showing on Tuesday.

“I’m happy with today," he said. "There’s a couple of things I could improve on for sure.”

UO quarterbacks coach David Yost said last week that he was looking for that “it” factor in his starting quarterback. His criteria includes someone who takes charge, leads the team well and produces points.

Prukop, according to Yost, has certainly become that type of leader.

“Dakota has really taken on the leadership thing, and is kind of trying to take charge of the team, kind of challenge the team and get them moving, and everything, which is really positive,” Yost said.

Jonsen didn't disagree. He said Prukop has played very well during camp, and did so again on Tuesday. Jonsen said all he can do is continue to grow as a player.

“I won’t get discouraged,” Jonsen said. “Dakota had a great day. Obviously I was inconsistent. I think what really matters is how I’m going to bounce back.”

Jonsen, rated by Rivals.com as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the nation coming out of high school in 2014, has the physical tools to become Oregon's starting quarterback at some point. It simply might be too early for Jonsen to seize that opportunity at this juncture in his young career.

“Travis, he has a good understanding of the offense now it’s just getting reps over and over again,” Yost said. “They are kind of at two different points of the learning curve.”

Meanwhile, Prukop has leaned on his experience to allow his talents to flourish.

“Dakota, with the experience he has, has worked hard to use that to his advantage to grow as a QB within the system," Yost said.

Helfrich said last week that he hoped to name a starter 10 days before the first game on Sept. 3. That would mean doing so on Aug. 24. On Tuesday, Helfrich said he wasn't ready to stand by that declaration, but clearly the team is leaning in Prukop's direction.

Ducks taking their time with QB race

Ducks taking their time with QB race

For the second consecutive season, the Ducks have a fall camp competition for the most important single starting position on any football team.

But while many outside the program await with anticipation to see who wins the job between Travis Jonsen and Dakota Prukop, the coaching staff is relying on patience to help them make such an important decision.

"It has to be organic," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. "It has to happen right in front of everybody for everybody's best interest."

Prukop, a senior transfer from Montana State, is the front-runner. Jonsen, a redshirt freshman, is said to be in the hunt. For whatever reason, the coaches insist that freshman Terry Wilson is also in the mix. But it is highly unlikely that a true freshman would help the Ducks improve on last season's 9-4 record.

Oregon quarterbacks coach David Yost said he's looking for the quarterback that displays the "it" factor. The guy who takes charge, runs the show with confidence and, most of all, produces points.

"I've done this for a long time and there's kind of a time when you get to and you're like, 'yep, that guy is the guy,'" Yost said. "It does kind of happen all of the sudden."

The wait for that moment could take longer with Jonsen than with Prukop.

Look, the Ducks didn't sell Prukop on leaving MSU for Oregon by telling him he could end up spending his senior season backing up a redshirt freshman. That doesn't mean UO guaranteed Prukop he would be the starter, but they certainly didn't tell him he didn't have the inside track.

Sources say Prukop has anywhere from a 75 percent to a 90 percent chance to be the starter when the team takes the field for the first time this season on Sept. 3 against UC Davis at Autzen Stadium.

Last year, the coaching staff also played their quarterback choice close to the vest even though sources said it was clear from the first day that Vernon Adams Jr. stepped onto the practice field that he would be the guy over Jeff Lockie. However, Lockie had a leg up on understanding the system, so Adams had to play catch up in that area. Once he did, the "competition" was a wrap.

This year's battle is a bit closer because Jonsen, rated by Rivals.com as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the nation within the 2015 recruiting class, has far greater potential than Lockie, and Prukop is not the gunslinger and playmaker Adams proved to be on a nightly basis after transferring in from Eastern Washington.

However, the gap in experience between Prukop and Jonsen is simply too great. Prukop produced 70 touchdowns at Montana State. Jonsen has never thrown a pass in a college football game.

Jonsen said during Oregon's media day that Prukop certainly has the edge in the experience department, and it shows. Jonsen added that while his pocket presence has improved, Prukop's is already very good.

Jonsen also pointed to the savvy Prukop routinely demonstrated last spring during two-minute situations, something Jonsen is still learning to handle.

In the end, Prukop's proven guile could provide the tipping point in his favor.

Prukop exited spring as the likely starter, and, according to Yost, did nothing but help himself over the summer by watching plenty of video, picking the brains of Lockie and backup quarterback Taylor Alie for information, and taking charge during summer workouts.

"Dakota has worked his tail off with the offense all summer," Yost said.

For now, Prukop and Jonsen are getting equal reps during practices. Helfrich said that ideally they would name a starter about 10 days before the opening game so the team could start game prep. So, around Aug. 24.

Roses or Roulette?: Ducks Preview Part 1 - is Prukop the answer at QB?

Roses or Roulette?: Ducks Preview Part 1 - is Prukop the answer at QB?

College football is back! The Ducks begin fall camp on Monday so we're breaking down each position to determine if the Ducks, picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12, and their fans will be smelling roses as Pac-12 champs during a trip to the Rose Bowl or placing bets at a roulette table prior to watching a sixth-place UO team in the Las Vegas Bowl. Each position is graded using the poker hand scale.

Smelling like roses: Prukop will win this job unless Jonsen takes a quantum leap this fall. Why? Because the senior transfer has been there and done that. At least at the FCS level. Oregon needs Prukop to put up the same numbers he did last season at MSU when he threw for 3,025 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, and rushed for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns. Only that type of performance from the quarterback position would give the Ducks hopes of winning the Pac-12 conference.

Place your bets: If Jonsen wins the job, or Prukop falters, the Ducks could easily be Vegas Bowl-bound. Name the last time Oregon won the conference with a redshirt freshman quarterback. Try never. Even Marcus Mariota fell short in 2012. Some believe all an Oregon quarterback must do is be a game manager given the talent throughout Oregon's offense. Nonsense. The Ducks have never been special with a game manager at quarterback. Only with the likes of Joey Harrington, Kellen Clemens, Dennis Dixon, Darron Thomas and Mariota have the Ducks ever truly been elite. Even marginal passer Jeremiah Masoli proved time and time to be a special playmaker in key situations, especially with his legs.

Odds are: Prokop could end up being better all-around than Vernon Adams Jr. was last year simply because the former will put the "dual" back in "dual-threat quarterback." But little evidence exists to support the idea Prukop will be special enough to carry the Ducks on his back from time to time. Not saying he won't. We simply do not know that he can.

Poker hand: Three of a kind. Oregon has talent and depth at quarterback, but too many question marks to be considered can't lose.

Oregon's continuing QB competition could be good or bad for the Ducks

Oregon's continuing QB competition could be good or bad for the Ducks

If we are to believe Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, and there's evidence to go either way on that, the Ducks' quarterback competition remains wide open between senior transfer Dakota Prukop, redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen and true freshmann Terry Wilson.

To be fair, there's zero reason for Helfrich to tip his hand either way at this point. It's not as if a Marcus Mariota or Darron Thomas is returning as an unchallenged starter.

Sources say that it's anywhere from a 75 percent to a 90 percent chance Prukop opens the season as the starter Sept. 3 against U.C. Davis at Autzen Stadium.

Helfrich's words at Pac-12 Media Days, however, indicate otherwise.

"I think it's a three-man race coming out of spring," Helfrich said. "And I think all three of those guys will be drastically different when they show up in the fall."

Helfrich said he expects a summer of throwing with receivers and further absorbing the playbook to result in a dramatic leap in consistency for all three quarterback contenders. But is there really a true competiton in play, or is that understandable coach-speak? Probably a bit of both. Let's look at the pros and cons involved in the possible scenarios surrounding this position heading into fall camp, which begins Aug. 8:

1. Dakota Prukop is the unchallenged starter.

Pro: If Prukup demonstrated during spring that he can deliver a Pac-12 title then internally naming him the unchallenged starter is all good, even if the formal public statements are to the contrary.

It is unlikely, however, that Prukop made such an impression during the spring. At least, no such word has leaked out that Prukop lit it up during closed practices, and he certainly didn't put forth a dominant effort during the spring game.

We've heard positives about his progress, but he has not yet seized the job like Vernon Adams Jr. did within a few days of showing up to fall camp last year. Then again, Adams faced less competitoin.

Con: If Prukop becomes the guy by default, Oregon would have a problem. The last thing the Ducks want to see is Jonsen and Wilson not demonstrate at least the ability to produce as a starter. In this scenario, Prukop being the unchallenged starter because nobody is capable of challenging him and not because he is playing great football would certainly lead to trouble on the field with no Plan B in place.

2. Jonsen truly pushes Prukop.

Pro: The positve here would be that the Ducks could see the end to recruiting Big Sky quarterbacks to rescue the program. If Prokop appears to be a strong candidate to start but is facing a tough battle from the former No. 3-rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation, the Ducks are in business behind center for years to come.

Plus, Oregon would know that if Prukop went down the team wouldn't skip a beat with Jonsen in the lineup. A Pac-12 title would be within reach.

Con: If Jonsen is pushing Prukop because the latter is proving to be less than expected, the Ducks are headed toward a 7-5 record.

Should Jonsen win the job it must be because he is amazing in the same way Marcus Mariota took the job as a redshirt freshman away from redshirt sophomore Bryan Bennett prior to the 2012 season. Bennett, who ended up in an NFL camp after transferring and starting at Southeastern Louisiana, certainly had the goods to be a successful starter at Oregon. He simply lost out to a future Heisman Trophy winner. If Prukop loses out to a struggling redshirt freshman simply because he doesn't offer more than Jonsen does, the Ducks are in trouble. Remember, Oregon went after Prukop because the coaching staff wasn't confident Jonsen, who missed most of the available practice reps during his redshirt season because of a toe injury, would be ready to carry the load this season. If neither is capable, the Las Vegas Bowl awaits.

3. Wilson truly has a shot to become the starter.

Pro: He would have to be phenomenal. As in, the next Robert Griffin III (check the dreads). This scenario would require a special player to have arrived for spring as a three-star recruit and steal the job away from Prukop and Jonsen. For that to happen, the coaching staff would have to believe that Wilson is a future Heisman candidate that must get on the field right now.

Con: If the above isn't the case, then that means Jonsen and Prukop lost out to a promising freshman who clearly is too inexperienced to win it. This would likely mean Prukop is a disgruntled backup second-guessing his decision to transfer to Oregon while Jonsen would be plotting a transfer in the winter while the coaching staff begins searching for another transfer.

All bad.

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The best-cased scenario for Oregon is as follows: Prukop wins the job over a very competent Jonsen whom coaches believe the Ducks could win with if needed. Jonsen receives meaningful time in blowout victories, and maybe a spot start due to injury (never ideal to have the starter go down but at least it would mean more game time for Jonsen). Jonsen continues to grow as a player and enters next season as an impact first-year starter with Wilson, who redshirts this season, as the backup.

If the quarterback competition plays out in this fashion the Ducks will have a strong chance to prove doubters wrong by claiming the Pac-12 North Division and maybe the conference championship.

If not, the Ducks will fall short of achieving a 10-win season for the second consecutive year.